Another beautiful day for racing at Tennessee’s Action Track with the Sportsman division taking center stage for the 25 lap Sportsman Special paying $750 to the winner.
With a strong field of cars on hand it was Clyde Stanton who took the lead on the start ahead of Brad Seagle and Bryan Cooper who held onto the third spot. Seagle had his sights set on the leader but also had to fight off Cooper who wanted his runner up spot. Point leader Kyle Courtney qualified back in the 6th position so he had his work cutout for him again to get to the front. Up front Seagle had closed the gap on Stanton as the two fought for the top spot until a caution for Jimmy Calloway slowed the pace. Calloway wasn’t very happy with the #171 of Courtney and was DQ’ed for hitting him under caution. Back under green and it was Terry Poore who was on the move as he put his #2 machine into the third spot. Seagle had been pressuring Stanton for the lead the entire race and was able to slip by on the outside and put himself into the lead. The battle between Poore and Courtney was intense and it all boiled over as the two got together coming off turn four sending Poore for a spin. However the caution would be called on Courtney who was forced to go to the rear of the field. Seagle would hold on the final laps and pick up the big win.
1: #31 Brad Seagle
2: #C11 Clyde Stanton
3: #3 Floyd Self
4: #15 Bryan Cooper
5: #17 Brad Thomas
6: #171 Kyle Courtney
7: #Michael Ledford
8: #2 Terry Poore
9: #1 Jr Whitener
10: #322 Fireball Roberts
11: #31b Barry Duncan
DQ: #77 Jimmy Calloway
DQ: #101b Bradley Lewelling
DNS: #98 Jed Emert
2: #C11 Clyde Stanton
3: #3 Floyd Self
4: #15 Bryan Cooper
5: #17 Brad Thomas
6: #171 Kyle Courtney
7: #Michael Ledford
8: #2 Terry Poore
9: #1 Jr Whitener
10: #322 Fireball Roberts
11: #31b Barry Duncan
DQ: #77 Jimmy Calloway
DQ: #101b Bradley Lewelling
DNS: #98 Jed Emert
Up next was the 20 lap Mini Stock feature. John Byers came into the night looking for his incredible 11th win of 2016 but he would have his work cut out for him. Thomas Clark took control of the race on the start ahead of Jamie James and Joe Ottinger. The top two quickly pulled away but James was all over the back of the #41 machine for the lead as the early laps ticked away. Byers started in the second half of the field but was looking for the third spot. The #83 was on the move as per usual with him moving into the third spot and begun to reel in the leaders. Byers had closed in on James for the runner up spot as the top three were under a blanket. Going into turn four Byers and James made contact and both went for a spin. The caution would be called on Byers who would have to restart his drive to the front. Thomas Clark would go on to pick up the win.
1: #41 Thomas Clark
2: #83 John Byers
3: #2A Joe Ottinger
4: #5 Mitchell Fox
5: #F5 Travis Fox
6: #77 Stephen Russell
7: #13 Jamie James
8: #1 Wesley Galloway
9: #11 Chris Bowlin
10: #47 Shal Ritenour
DNS #44 Tommy Metler
2: #83 John Byers
3: #2A Joe Ottinger
4: #5 Mitchell Fox
5: #F5 Travis Fox
6: #77 Stephen Russell
7: #13 Jamie James
8: #1 Wesley Galloway
9: #11 Chris Bowlin
10: #47 Shal Ritenour
DNS #44 Tommy Metler
Next up was the 20 lap Classic Car feature. A tight point battle between Eli Keck, Rusty Welch and Ritchie Overholser coming into the night made every lap important. It would be Lee Merritt who took command of the race with the green in the air. A quick caution for Ritchie Overholser would slow the pace early on. Back under green and it was a two man show as Merritt and Pressley were bumper to bumper for the top spot once again. Unfortunately several drivers wouldn’t make it to the end of the race the first of which was Chris Nix who pulled into the infield and retired for the evening. The top two were still nose to tail as they came up on some slower traffic off turn four. Merritt would be able to negotiate his way through but Pressley was still on his heels. Pressley would make another late charge in the final laps but wouldn’t be able to get it done.
1: #78 Lee Merritt
2: #22 Adam Pressley
3: #8 Eli Keck
4: #18 Joe Keck
5: #88 Ritchie Overholser
6: #9 Rusty Welch
7: #0 Chris Nix
2: #22 Adam Pressley
3: #8 Eli Keck
4: #18 Joe Keck
5: #88 Ritchie Overholser
6: #9 Rusty Welch
7: #0 Chris Nix
Trevor Sise set fast time in Late Model qualifying with a 13.948 being one of only three cars under the 14 second mark. However, Sise had won back to back features which meant he would have to start in the third spot for the 30 lap feature. With the green waving high above, Ruben Mayfield put his #00 on point taking the top spot. The returning Jason Manley would show his power early on as he turned up the heat on the leader in the opening laps. It wouldn’t take Manley long as he powered by Mayfield and into the lead early on. Josh Henry qualified back in the sixth position but was already working over Trevor Sise for the 4th spot. After dominating last weekend, Trevor Sise would retire early from the feature with problems. Josh Henry had moved past Eddie King Jr into third but the two made contact and both spun in turn 4. Jason Manley held on for the final handful of laps and picked up his first win of 2016.
1: #32 Jason Manley
2: #00 Ruben Mayfield
3: #B00 Josh Henry
4: #63 Josh Collins
5: #2 Danny Yoder
6: #31 Johnny Ridings
7: #50 Adam Mitchell
8: #39 Eddie King Jr
9: #73 Trevor Sise
3: #B00 Josh Henry
4: #63 Josh Collins
5: #2 Danny Yoder
6: #31 Johnny Ridings
7: #50 Adam Mitchell
8: #39 Eddie King Jr
9: #73 Trevor Sise
The final event of the night was the 20 lap Street Stock feature. Once again Skimp Henry set fast time with a 14.976 lap. Not only was that the pole time it was also a brand new track record for the Newport native. The green waved and Henry put his #25 into the familiar spot of the lead ahead of Austin Neely and Jerry Hux. Rocky Ogle was on the go working over Hux for third as the opening laps ticked away. It was a tough night for MJ Collier who had some handling issues on his #13 machine and wouldn’t be around at the finish. A spin for Jason West would slow the pace putting Neely and Hux on the back bumper of Henry. The battle of the race was between Hux and Ogle as they raced for third behind the top two. Neely would try to stay with Henry but wouldn’t be able to as Skimp went on to pick up his 11th win of 2016 and stretch his point lead out.
1: #25 Skimp Henry
2: #3 Austin Neely
3: #01 Jerry Hux
4: #9 Rocky Ogle
5: #11 Tracy Wolfe
6: #35 Jason West
7: #20 Scott Atkins
8: #13 MJ Collier
2: #3 Austin Neely
3: #01 Jerry Hux
4: #9 Rocky Ogle
5: #11 Tracy Wolfe
6: #35 Jason West
7: #20 Scott Atkins
8: #13 MJ Collier
